THE Covid-19 pandemic has redefined fashion in so many ways. Stylish ready-to-wear pieces take a backseat and loungewear takes centrestage as people spend more time indoors.
Face mask is practically a fashion category on its own with so many stylish versions available in the market. It’s all about practicality too, and having a more conscious effort to be kinder to the environment.
A great accessory when we head out for grocery runs or errands would be the reusable tote bag. The bags are nothing new but more local brands are producing their own to encourage consumers to reduce the use of plastic bags.
In times like these, when people aren’t shopping for clothes like they used to pre-pandemic, perhaps a functional, spacious everyday bag is easier to sell than a pair of jeans.
You’ve got the conventional canvas bag, recycled cotton bag, jute bag for extra volume and capacity – take your pick. I am not ashamed to say that I am a hoarder of reusable tote bags as I find that it’s convenient. It can be easily folded and can carry heavy items compared to single-use plastic bags.
Here are some local brands with cool totes.
1. DUCK
The brand is popular for its scarves but it has reusable bags too. The dUCk Shopping Bag is great if you want to store heavy items as it’s made from a blend of jute and cotton. It comes in a few colours but the black one piqued my interest the most.
I like that it’s plain with minimal motifs and best of all, you can choose to personalise it by having your name embroidered on it.
2. WHIMSIGIRL
The brand is known for its no-frills designs so you can expect the same for its everyday bag called the Pick-Me-Up tote. Decked in a range of pastel colours with its name placed on the corner, Whimsigirl’s everyday bag comes with compartments too, which is great because to be frank, I don’t own any reusable shopping bag that comes with multiple compartments to keep things in place. On days we head to the beach, I wouldn’t mind using it as a beach bag too. (The bag is currently out of stock, according to its website).
3. CHRISTY NG
You can also find tote bags from local brand Christy Ng. Although I like the design, its Quarantina and Skyline Grocery Bags bear a striking resemblance to Christian Dior’s popular Book Tote. With Christy Ng’s bags, you can also choose to have your name embroidered across the bag. It will be years before I can afford to purchase a Christian Dior tote on my own, so this will do for now but I don’t think I would bring it to the market because I feel it’s too fancy for it.
4. MUNI
It is already a sustainable fashion brand that dyes its clothes in natural dyes from tropical plants. Besides clothes, it also has 100 per cent cotton canvas tote bags. While I applaud the brand’s effort in making sure it doesn’t leave a large carbon footprint, I feel that the price (RM92.50 according to its website) is a little too expensive for me.
Source: News Straits Times
